WalkFit Orthotic Insoles Review: Are They A Scam?

If you have chronic back pain, or problems with your feet, shins, knees, or hips, WalkFit orthotics promise to improve comfort, balance, and foot support while running, walking or standing. Many of you have probably seen WalkFit brand orthotic insoles being advertised in the media. Shoe inserts such as these attempt to alleviate minor common foot and back discomfort and are sold as a preventative health aid. The Platinum orthotics are the latest in the WalkFit product line.

WalkFit Orthotics Reviews

WalkFit claims their orthotics are better than other shoe inserts on the market, so what makes their product so much better? Let's summarize some of the positive claims made by people who have bought WalkFit orthotics and are supposedly satisfied customers:

• Walkfit orthotics are better at absorbing shock than other 'ordinary' orthotics on the market. Other additional benefits include, protection against foot injuries, increased foot comfort, relief from foot and other leg pain.
• WalkFit Phase 4/Platinum orthotics realign the lower limbs to their correct position which serves to relieve pressure from sore spots by distributing body weight more evenly across the bottom surface of the foot.
• WalkFits are ideal for people suffering from symptoms of tendonitis, arthritis, and flat feet and recommend their orthotics for people that have had foot surgery performed. Also, foot fatigue and other effects of old age can be reduced with their products.
• The Walkfit orthotics attribute their better quality to superior design. They claim that similar products provide protection against injuries or relieve foot, back, or hip symptoms but that WalkFit goes a step further and combines safety and comfort through their use of highly resistant semi-rigid materials.
• WalkFit orthotic insoles are available in different styles and sizes and are recommended of people of all ages, male or female. They will fit into any type of shoe and come shipped with three pairs of arch inserts depending on the whether you have high, low, or average arches and are guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Note: these claims have not been made by the manufacturer of WalkFit orthotics, these are only but a sampling of written reviews readily available across the internet.

Reading the above internet reviews of this model of Walkfit, its plain to see that there is no hard scientific evidence provided to substantiate any claims that the WalkFits are the best orthotics on the market. Furthermore, the WalkFit website only vaguely hints at any of the above claims so it seems some of the reviews are not only disguising anectdotal evidence as scientific fact but are also interjecting claims not made by the manufacturer. So are WalkFit orthotics a scam?

Based on the above evidence you would probably expect me to say yes, WalkFits are a scam. However, I have a background in long distance running and battled shin splints until I purchased (well, I was younger so it was my parents who bought them) orthotics inserts from my podiatrist to wear inside my running shoes. So while WalkFits may not be the best remedy for foot ailments, orthotics themselves are medically proven to fix problems with pronation and extreme arch conditions.

The process of being fit for orthotics required my foot doctor to first diagnose what was causing the pain in my shins. It turns out I have high arches and I underpronate, meaning that when my foot strikes the ground it doesn't flatten out as much as it should and causes undo force to be placed on the outside heel of my foot.

In order for the doctor to create my orthotic inserts, a mold had to be taken of my feet. This required me to stand in a pan filled with a paste like substance that slowly dried so it could be sent off to a orthotics manufacturer. In the end, the custom made orthotics alleviated my shin splints and allowed me to go on to be a pretty successful high school cross country and track runner. They were definitely a step above the generic store bought orthotics that the athletic trainer at my school first recommended to me before seeing the podiatrist. The downside is that shoe inserts like these can cost hundreds of dollars when you add up the medical bills and the product themselves.

So does everyone need specially made orthotic inserts? No, probably not. First of all the cost is prohibitive. Secondly, not everyone has a severe enough case of shin splints or other ailment to warrant spending hundreds of dollars on a solution.

If you notice minor pain in your shins, feet, legs, or back due to walking, running, or standing, I would recommend for you to go and see your doctor and from there you might be referred to a foot care specialist that practices sports medicine.

However, I know that some people don't have adequate health insurance or may not find the pain intense enough to warrant a doctor visit. In this case, I would recommend that you buy orthotics from WalkFit. The price is around $20, cheap enough so it won't break the bank if they don't fix your problem. Other then on TV, you can purchase them online at a discount and sometimes even with free shipping on your order. If the WalkFit orhtotics or other brand don't work, then you might require a visit to a physician.

So while some of the claims made by WalkFit customers may not be scientifically admissable, I know for a fact that orthotics do work to alleviate pain of the lower body and back. My major beef is that WF claim to be the best without any medical facts to back it up. Despite this lack of evidence, it wouldn't hurt to give the WalkFits a try. There are many people that don't need specialty foot inserts to cure their medical problems and would do just fine with these orthotics. So in the end, you really don't have much to lose if your feet are already hurting. Go out and try the Phase 4 or Platinum series models and see if you start to feel better and go from there. Good luck and thanks for reading!

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